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7.1-magnitude quake hits southern Indian Ocean: USGS

Saturday, December 5, 2015 - 10:00

[HONG KONG] A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck in the southern Indian Ocean Saturday, but there was no indication of a destructive tsunami and unlikely to be any casualties or damage, US seismologists said.

The shallow tremor struck at 6.24am (22.24 GMT Friday), around 3,100km south-west of the Australian city of Perth and 1,000km from the uninhabited Heard Island and McDonald Islands, the US Geological Survey said.

The epicentre was at the Southeast Indian ridge, a tectonic plate boundary located along the sea floor of the southern Indian Ocean.

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre said there was currently no threat of a tsunami to Australia.